Automatic portable fire extinguisher



July 1, 1969 5. DE PALMA 3,452,819

AUTOMATLC PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Aug. 15, 1967 Sheet or"2 Fig.

Fig.2

. Joseph 5. OePa/ma INVENTOR.

July 1, 1969 J. 5. DE PALMA AUTOMATIC PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Aug. 15, 1967 Fig.3

Sheet 3 0162 Fig .4

P I] I Joseph 5. DePaIma INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,452,819 AUTOMATIC PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Joseph S. De Palma, 109 Carlson Court, 'Closter, NJ. 07624 Filed Aug. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 660,783 Int. Cl. A62c 13/02 U.S. Cl. 16927 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable automatic fire extinguisher, such as normally charged with a bicarbonate solution and an acid to be reacted therewith, which includes a fusible link operatively mounted exteriorly of the receptacle for the bicarbonate solution which upon fusing in response to an abnormal temperature rise releases an acid containing receptacle into the bicarbonate solution by releasing a pin protruding through the cover of the extinguisher, which pin carries the acid containing receptacle. The aperture uncovered by release of the acid containing receptacle retaining pin then becomes the discharge orifice for the bicarbonate-acid reaction product comprising the fire extinguishing fluid. The portable extinguisher further includes a selectively angled diffuser plate interposed in the path of discharge of the fire extinguishing fluid so as to spray the fluid in a desired pattern up to and including 360 about the portable extinguisher.

The present invention relates to a portable automatic fire extinguished and more particularly to a portable automatic fire extinguisher of the type adapted to intermix two or more components, whereby suflicient pressure is generated to discharge the reaction product from the extinguisher. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable automatic fire extinguisher provided with novel means of retaining and subsequently admixing, upon the sensing of an abnormal thermal condition, the reactants to effect discharge of the fire extinguishing liquid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel construction for a portable automatic fire extinguisher which is actuated in response to the sensing of an abnormal ambient temperature.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction for a portable automatic fire extinguisher whereby a novel means is provided for normally retaining, and subsequently releasing, a reactant containing receptacle within the extinguisher to initiate a pressurizing reaction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction for a portable automatic fire extinguisher whereby conventional portable fire extinguishers, such as of the soda-acid type, may be readily modified to automatic actuation in response to the sensing of an abnormally high ambient temperature.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction for a portable automatic fire extingiusher wherein a bracket means carried by the closure of a portable extinguisher is provided with a fusible link retained, spring released detent means to normaL ly preclude admixture of the reactants within the extinguisher and wherein release of a reactant containing receptacle within the extinguisher by fusing of the fusible link simultaneously uncovers a pressurized fire extinguishing fluid discharge orifice.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction for a portable automatic fire extinguisher wherein exposure of the contents of the extinguisher to the atmosphere, and thus loss of fluid through "ice the agency of evaporation, is substantially reduced or eliminated.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of a portable automatic fire extinguisher constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and wherein a portion of the extinguisher tank is shown in vertical cross-section so as to illustrate certain interior details of the extinguisher;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective exploded view of a thermally released reactant containing receptable comprising a portion of the portable extinguisher of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary medial vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary medial vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a reactant receptacle detent means illustrating the position of certain elements subsequent to the sensing of an abnormal ambient thermal condition.

Referring now to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular it will be seen that the exemplary embodiment 10 of a portable automatic fire extinguisher constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a tank 12, such as conventionally utilized for two and a half gallon soda-acid portable fire extinguishers. The top of the tank 12 is provided with an annular neck portion 14 defining an upwardly disposed tank opening indicated generally at 16. The opening 16 is normally closed by a releasably secured closure cap 18 such as internally threaded at 20 so as to be threadably received on complementary external threads provided on the neck portion 14. The closure cap 18 includes a generally, although not necessarily, planar top portion 22 and an annular handle 24 formed integrally with or secured to the lower portion of the closure cap 18 by means of upwardly and outwardly diverging bars 26.

The central portion 22 of the closure cap 18 is provided with a generally centrally disposed aperture as indicated generally at 28 and seen best in FIGURE 5. The aperture 28 is sized so as to comprise a relatively small diameter pressurized fire extinguishing fluid discharge orifice means as will become more apparent hereinafter. A pin 30 having an annular groove 32 intermediate the ends thereof and exteriorly threaded as at 34 adjacent the lower end normally projects upwardly through the discharge orifice 28. It will be underdstood that the pin 30 is sized so as to be freely slidable through the aperture 28. The pin 30 threadably and adjustably carries an annular spider ring 36 having a centrally disposed bore 38 provided with threads complementary to the threads 34. As best seen in FIGURE 3 the annular spider ring 36, in assembled relationship, is normally disposed within a generally open-top cylindrical receptacle 40 and is retained therein by an inwardly disposed flange 42. It will be understood that the spider ring 36 is sufficiently resilient to permit its being forced into the receptacle 40 but sufiiciently rigid to normally preclude its disengagement from beneath the annular flange 42. Alternatively, the spider ring 36 could be secured to the receptacle 40 as by soldering, for example. The bottom wall, not clearly visible, of the receptacle 40 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture for the through passage of a suitable fastener, such as a bolt 44 to facilitate securing a weight 46 to the underside of the receptacle 40 by means of reception of the bolt 44 in a complementary threaded bore 48 on the upper surface of the weight 46.

The pin 30 is maintained in the normal position by a detent means indicated generally at 50 which comprises an upstanding bracket 52 in the shape of a bow or harp for example, and having integral base portions 54 by which the bracket 52 is secured to the upper side of the generally planar portion 22 of the closure cap 18. The bracket 52 is provided with a pair of bifurcated journals 56 which are generally diametrically and inwardly disposed. The journals 56 have slidably and pivotally journaled therein detent arms 58 by means of pins 60 carried by the bifurcated journals 56. The detent arms 58 preferably comprise case hardened arcuate strips twisted as at 62 whereby the lower portion of the detent arm 58 is at generally right angles to the upper portion thereof. In addition, the lower end of each of the detent arms 58 is bifurcated as at 64 to provide each arm with a pair of detent fingers 65 adapted to engage the pin 30 by being received within the annular groove 32. The detent fingers 65 are preferably sized so as to substantially encompass the reduced diameter of the pin 30 on the surface thereof contiguous with the annular groove 32 so as to preclude inadvertent premature disengagement of the pin 30 from the fingers 65 of the detent arms 58. The detent arms 58 are further provided with elongated pivot slots indicated generally at 66 to facilitate slidably and pivotally securing the detent arms 58 to their respective pivot pins 60 as indicated hereinabove. Adjacent their upper ends the detent arms 58 are provided with upstanding brackets integral therewith as indicated at 68 adapted, such as by being notched at 70, to receive a fusible link 72. It will be understood that the bracket portions 68 are fixed relative to the detent arms 58 so as to preclude any relative movement. The fusible link 72 is provided with end loops 74 engageable about the bracket 68 and received within the notches 70 so as to normally maintain the detent arms 58 in the positition illustrated in FIGURES l, 3 and 4 wherein the pin carried receptacle 40 is maintained contiguous with the underside of the closure cap 18. The detent means 50 further includes a generally helical spring 76 having its end portions 78 engaged in suitable apertures in the detent arm 58 and bracket 68 upstanding therefrom. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that upon destruction of the fusible link 72 the spring 76 will act to move the detent arms 58 from the position shown in FIG- URE 3 to that shown in FIGURE whereby the pin 30 will be permitted to drop by virtue of the fact that the fingers 65 of the detent arm '58 are withdrawn from within the annular groove 32 of the pin 30.

In the embodiment illustrated, the bracket 52 is provided with an upper portion 53 primarily for the support of a circular downwardly opening dish-shaped serrated edged dififuser plate' 80 secured to the bracket portion 53 as by a rivet 82 passing through a suitable aperture in the bracket portion 53 and diffuser 80. It will thus be observed that the diffuser 80 is interposed in the path of pressurized fluid which discharges from the outlet orifice 28. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the configuration of the diffuseri80 may be selectively varied to assist in distributing fire extinguishing liquid, in a manner to be described.

Referring now to the charging, assembly and operation of the portable automatic fire extinguisher 10 and referring first to FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen that the extinguisher 10 may be charged with exemplary solutions comprising an aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution 90 which substantially fills the tank 12 and a concentrated acid, such as sulfuric acid, as indicated at 92, which substantially fills the receptacle 40. In practice, the receptacle 40 is filled and the pin 30 threaded into the spider 36 and the pin 30 inserted upwardly through the aperture 28 whereby the detent fingers are engaged in the annular groove 32 by manipulating the detent arms 58 against the bias of the spring 76 at which point a fusible link, such as the link 72 in engaged over the upstanding arms 68 and wherein the end loops 74 of the fusible link 72 come to rest in the notches 70 thereof. The closure cap 18 with the receptacle 40 releasably secured thereto is then lowered into the tank 12 through the opening 16 and the closure cap 18 threadably engaged to the neck 14, such as by rotation of the annular handle 24 so as to bring the underside of the portion 22 of the closure cap 18 into sealing engagement with the upper edge of the neck 14. At this point, it will be appreciated that the extinguisher 10 is charged and is fully operational. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the alloy used to form the fusible link 72 is selected so as to be fusible at a predetermined temperature, depending of course upon the locale in which the extinguisher 10 is utilized, so as to be fusible at a temperature above a normal ambient temperature.

With the foregoing in mind, it will be seen that upon fusing of the link 72 by virtue of the link 72 being subjected to a temperature above a predetermined maximum, the link 72 will disintegrate permitting the spring 76 to bias the detent arms 58 Ifrom the position shown in FIGURE 3 to that shown in FIGURE 5 whereby the bifurcated end 64 thereof will withdraw from within the annular groove 32 of the pin 30 thus permitting the receptacle 40 to drop downwardly from the full line position to the phantom line position as seen in FIG- URE 1. The acid 92 within the receptacle 40 will react with the sodium bicarbonate solution 90 to virtually instantaneously develop a pressure in the order of approximately 300 to 500 lbs/sq. in. whereby the reaction product will shoot upwardly through the discharge orifice 28 striking the diffuser 80, and in the case of the particular diffuser illustrated herein, be diffused outwardly and downwardly 360 about the extinguisher 10. :In the exemplary form of the portable automatic fire extinguisher 10 illustrated, under normal circumstances, the discharge of the reaction product of the acid and sodium bicarbonate will be dispensed for approximately three minutes.

:Although not indicated heretofore, it will nevertheless be appreciated that the pin 30 may be threadably adjusted relative to the spider 36 so as to selectively vary the position of the slot 32 relative to the upper surface Olf the portion 22 of the closure cap 18 and also insure that the upper edge of the receptacle 40 sealingly engages the underside of the closure cap 18. In addition, it will be appreciated that the weight 46 is utilized to overcome the buoyancy of the receptacle 40 so as to insure that the acid 92 rapidly and completely reacts with the sodium bicarbonate 90. It will therefore be apparent that a portable automatic fire extinguisher constructed in accordance with the present invention can be utilized when it is physically impossible, and/or economically unfeasible to install a conventional sprinkler system. This is particularly true where a hazardous condition exists in isolated areas of a structure. Such areas may be provided with one or more portable automatic fire extinguishers 10 strategically placed to prevent a small fire from becoming a large one, automatically, and at a relatively low cost.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable automatic thermally responsive fire extinguisher comprising in combination, a tank means having a generally upwardly disposed opening, a closure means removably received by said tank means to normally close said opening, said closure means being provided with an aperture defining a pressurized fire extinguisl1- ing fluid outlet orifice, a detent engageable pin means normally projecting through said aperture in said closure means, an upwardly opening receptacle carried by said pin means, a thermally releasable detent means carried by said closure means generally externally of said tank means and adapted to engage said pin means whereby said receptacle will normally be maintained adjacent said closure means and be free to drop in response to an abnormal thermal condition, and a fire extinguishing fluid diffuser means carried by said closure means and operatively interposed in the path of fire extingushing fluid discharging from said outlet orifice whereby fire extinguishing fluid impinging thereagainst will be distributed in a predetermined pattern about the fire extinguisher.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said thermally releasable detent means carried by said closure includes a generally arched bracket means having its lower ends secure to said closure, pivot means carried by said arched bracket, detent arm means pivotally carried by said pivot means, said detent arm means including detent fingers normally engaging said detent engageable pin means, a spring means operatively associated with said detent arm means to bias said detent fingers out of engagement with said detent engageable pin, a fusible member operatively associated with said detent arm means and adapted to maintain said detent fingers in engagement with said pin against the bias of said spring whereby upon thermally induced destruction of said fusible member said detent fingers will release said pin under the influence of said spring.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes at least a pair of pivot points carried by said arched bracket and at least a pair of coacting detent arms terminating in said detent fingers adapted to engage said detent engageable pin from generally diametrically opposed sides.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fire extinguishing fluid diffuser is carried by said arched bracket adjacent the apex thereof.

5. In combination with a tank-type portable fire extinguisher of the type using chemically interreacting components to pressurize and dispense a fire extinguishing fluid, an automatic thermally responsive actuating means for initiating the reaction between the components in response to the sensing of an abnormal ambient thermal condition which comprises a closure associated thermally responsive releasable detent, a detent means engageable pin means projecting through a fire extinguishing fluid discharge outlet provided in said closure, an upwardly opening fire extinguishing component containing receptacle carried by said detent engageable pin means, whereby said receptacle will normally be maintained adjacent the closure and thermally released to drop into the extinguisher tank to initiate the reaction of the components While simultaneously uncovering said discharge outlet and a fire extinguishing fluid discharge diffuser carried by said closure and interposed in the path of fire extinguishing fluid discharged through said discharge outlet.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said thermally releasable detent means carried by said closure includes a generally arched bracket means having its lower ends secured to said closure, pivot means carried by said arched bracket, detent arm means pivotally carried by said pivot means, said detent arm means including detent fingers normally engaging said detent engageable pin means, a spring means operatively associated with said detent arm means to bias said detent fingers out of engagement with said detent engageable pin, a fusible member operatively associated with said detent arm means and adapted to maintain said detent fingers in engagement with said pin against the bias of said spring whereby upon thermally induced destruction of said fusible member said detent fingers will release said pin under the influence of said spring.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said pivot means includes at least a pair of pivot points carried by said arched bracket and and at least a pair of coacting detent arms terminating in said detent fingers adapted to engage said detent engageable pin from generally diametrically opposed sides.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said fire extinguishing fluid diffuser is carried by said arched bracket adjacent the apex thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 920,340 5/1909 Kast -et al. 169-27 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL Y. MAR, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 169-32 

